"After every event like this, my father always asks me the same question." He said almost angrily. "Always asking me. 'Have you found that special woman yet?' And every time I answer, 'Not yet, father, but I hope I'll find her soon.'" He paused. "Tonight I had intentions to dance and be dulled by gossip. Then I saw you and thought 'Why is she alone?' How old are you?"
It took me a few seconds to adjust to the change in topic. "I'll only tell you if you tell me why you want to know," I told him. He looked amused that he didn't intimidate me.
"I just wanted to know, how ling until you are of age." He explained. I don't know if he was blushing as he said this, but I certainly was.
"I'm sixteen, seventeen at the beginning of November."
He didn't say anything; he seemed to be in deep thought.
Suddenly, "Beginning of November. I suppose I can wait." He said to no one. "Perhaps I'll ask your father for a request then. Why were you alone?"
"I was disgusted at the sight of my father dancing with Lydia. Anyway, no one would ask me to dance, so I was bored. That's why I came out here."
"They don't know what they're missing." He said to no one. "I have to leave now. Get some rest, Serena."
"Why?" I asked, confused.
"Tomorrow I'll come to your manor and call upon you to visit the menagerie. And call me Jon. Good night, Serena.'
"Good night,... Jon."
He bowed and left. I was now alone with my thoughts. That happens a lot to me.
When the King and Queen left with Jon, my father called me, "Serena, we're leaving."
I came into the banquet hall, and we walked out to the carriage.
"Did you have a good time, girls?" My father asked Dianis and me.
"Yes," we said together. There was silence for about ten minutes because no one knew what to talk about. Lydia broke the silence; she hates silence.
"Joshua, tomorrow we shall go to town and celebrate by spending money."
"I thought we could spend the day walking in the forest," my father protested. My father felt a special connection when he was in the woods.
"Maybe we could do both? Begin with shopping and end with a walk in the woods, Joshua," Lydia compromised.
"Okay," he agreed. "What are you two planning for tomorrow?"
"I don't know yet," Dianis said, "but I'll think of something."
"Serena?"
"I was thinking of going to the menaerie," I said, thinking of my conversation with Jon.
We got home five minutes later and I went straight to my room. When I got there, my thoughts kept me awake long enough to undress and put on my nightgown. As soon as I lay down, or so it seemed, I fell asleep.
